Why Do Firefighters Ventilate The Roof

Remember more heat equals more water.

Why do firefighters ventilate the roof.

The majority of roofing experts agree that ridge vents are the most effective and cost effective roof vents available. I have roof vents so i have roof ventilation. Ventilate openings in the roof such as bulkheads skylights or scuttles. The most severe event we face from fire is flashover and ventilation needs to be a priority to reduce the likelihood of this occurring.

Why do we ventilate. Back to basics sounding and walking on the roof using roof ladders working from an aerial cutting the hole and punching through. If not done properly it can spread the fire and even hurt or kill firefighters. First it allows heated gasses to escape from the building and prevents backdrafts and smoke explosions.

For an attic fire keep the roof tight i e do not create a hole until you have applied water and temperatures have been reduced in the attic space. Take for example ridge vents. Firefighters may go ahead of the fire on a roof cut holes to access the attic and stop the fire from spreading through the attic. Ventilation is a part of structural firefighting tactics and involves the expulsion of heat and smoke from a burning building permitting the firefighters to more easily and safely find trapped individuals and attack the fire.

Another reason for venting the roof is to see how far the fire has progressed. While hardly anybody agrees on the best roof ventilation system everybody agrees some roof vents do hardly any good at all. It helps the fire burn better. There are a few reasons for ventilation.

A firefighter s ladder to roof guide. If a large fire is not properly ventilated not only will it be much harder to fight but it could also build up enough poorly burned smoke to create a smoke explosion. One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic. However there are many other critical steps that we need to master in order to make roof ventilation an efficient process.

Yes it does introduce fresh oxygen into the compartment as the fresh air entrains into the plume but with it being performed at the same time as the fire attack ventilation helps limit the fire to just one compartment or room and limits the amount of damage. Vertical ventilation also provides advance over the original fire area to search for and cut off extension of fire. Heat and smoke rise into the attic where the fire can move quickly.